Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-08
TIE NINE JUMPER


near il have long ago fallen into dislse. Their
roofs have fallen in, and it is years since the
gulch in which their rains are was the haoita-
ton OF men The entire gulch Is deserted now,
and tine Little Christabel is only memory to
those who once shared in the prosperity 1t
once brought to Fairplay gulch
A long, narrow pile of decaying logs and
parts of a clapboard roof mark the spot
where the boarding house was. There are
still living many of the men who once gath
cred around the long. rough pine table that
ran the full length Of the cabin. One OF them
told me the story OF Miss Millicent.
Miss Miilicent Hay was the only woman
ever seen at the Little Christable mine,
When Harley Vance, the owner of the
mine. advertised in a Denver paper for
cook for his boarding house, Miss Milllcent
Hay answered the advertisement in person.
She came walking up the trail leading to
the camp carrying little hand sachel and a
stout walking stick.
al have been staying down in Camp Crys-
tai, ~ she said TO the surprised Mr.. Vance, who
had advertised for a man cook, land l
thought the place would just suit me. The
stage brought NE 10 the mouth OF the gulch
and walked the rest of the way. 1t isn't
more than six miles, Is itf'
She was a small but resolute looking
woman, with keen gray eyes and mouth
indicating great firmnesS of character. Her
thin brown hair was ccmbed plainly back
from a brow beginning to show signs of
wrinkles, although she was but 40 years old.
"Do you think couldn't do the work. she
asked Il am quite strong and have known
nothing but hard work all my life"
She held out hrr unglovei hands as she
spoke. They were rough and wrinkled, with
bent fingers and csilloused palms.
you might do the work, y said MIR. Vance.
There are only about fifteen boarders and
We live in plain, rough way, and there is a
boy to help But If wouldn't be a pleasant
place for lady to live There are no women
in this gulch7
Il care nothing for that" said Miss Mill
cent Men are sometimes kinder than wo-
men, she added, with a tinge of bitterness in
her voice.
The end Of it all was that Miss Millicent was
installed as cook in the boarding house. She
had evidently come determined to stay, for
the stage coach that went rumbling through
the gulch next day brought up little hair
covered trunk with M. H." on the end of it
with brass headed nails.
Before week the boariers began blessing
the good angel that sent them Miss Milicent.
Such meals as she served had never been seen
before at the Little Christabel; and it was
wonderful to see the change she brought about
in the dirty little boarding house and its con.
tents. Her energy and strength seemed un
failing She went stepping brlskly about, the
neatest and sprightlest of housekeepers, sing
ing at her work and smiling on everybody.
At the end of fortnight every man in
camp knew Miss Millicent and had felt thu
influence good woman exerts in every com
munity.
Old hats and caps were dotted to her wher
ever she went. No oaths or rough word.
were spoken in her presence, and the mar
who would have dared to offer her an indIg
nifty would have rid on rail, y as my in
formant said
For year Miss Millicent lived at the Littl,
Christabel and in that time she had won tn,
sincere regard of every man in camp Their,
had been great deal of sickness among tn,
men that winter, and some of them owe
their lives to Miss Millicent's careful nursing
good food and general good sense in every
thing pertaining to the care of the sick.
Her own cheerfulness and good healtl
never failed her.
81 don't believe you ever had sorrow il
your life, did you'" asked one of the men on
day
Miss Millicent was standing in the cabil
81
ished as she made reply; she leaned her hea,
YEARLY against the door frame; her fac
paled for moment and her lips quivered a
she said slowly:
Every heart knoweth its own bitterness
then she turned and went to her own littl
room at the end of the cabin, and the ma
who had asked the question said:
"Some villain of a man at the bottom of
all, I'll bet; I'd like TO help stretch his neck
IL was no secret that one or two of the me
in camp had been suitors for Miss Millcent
hand, and it was known that she had receive
their proposals with burst of tears, and ha
begged them never, as they valued their hay
piness and hers, never 10 refer to the subieC
again.
The camp had been singularly free fror
the brawls and lawlessness that both distir
guish and disgrace most mountain minin
camps Mr.. Vance would not allow saloo
within the limits of the mine, and had mad
it obligatory on the men that they refrai
from many things common to the or,linar
miner.
The presence of Miss Millicent had ha
much TO do with the unusual good behavic
Of the men and the good name the Lift
Christabel wore q mining camp
But one day there came a bit of news {
the camp that changed the men from goo
natured, easy going, jOvial fellows to angry
determined men.
There lived on a claim near the Lift
Christabel a man known as Capt. Tom, a
honest, hard working and thoroughly goo
man, very popular with all who knew hin
and unusually so with the men employed
the Little Chrlstabel
For two years he had worked hard in DO,
erty and deprivation, developing claim tht
was generally believed to be worthless.
But fortune pla rs strange freaks in minin
camps, and Capt. Toms unpromising mir
one day revealed splendid vein of rich silvt
ore. He came down to the Little Christabe
jubilant over his good fortune. He returne
home to find his claim jumped by two
three men, led by fellow of unsavory rep,
tation known as Doc Grigson.
Grigson and his confederates were in DO
session of Capt Toms two years of labor, an
coolly ordered him to clear outn when
appeared at the door of his own little caiil
the order being emphasized by threats of in
iata &c L.. 1 1 Al
order Of his going.
This "mne jumping process is one / ca
not give in detail here. Suffice il to say tn
possession is even more than mine tenths
the law" when applied to unpatented and u
recorded mining claims
There was nothing for Capt Tom to do, alol
as he was, but to vacate the premises. tn
he did, going directly back to the Lift
Christsbel and laying his grievances befo
his friends there.
Capt. Toms story of his wrongs created /
tense excitement at the Little Christabel.
meeting was at once held and plan OF actit
decided upon.
Miss Millicent was kept in ignorance of tt
meeting.
women don't want to be mixed ND wi
such things-lesswise woman like herr So
one of the men,
Soon after supper that evening the m,
began leaving the cabin On various pr
lenses, and III q short time Miss Millicent W,
alone. This was an unusual proceeding {
the part OF the men, but Miss Millicent WI
wholly unsuspicious of its import.
An hour later, while sitting before the Fl
mending coat belonging to one of the me
Miss knalicent suddenly threw aside her wo,
and said:
There! if ! haven't entirely forgotten
give Mir. Vance that list of thinnp [ zzo,